The Zac Schulze Gang: Straight To It Review

The Zac Schulze Gang does not waste time. On its debut studio album Straight To It, the UK-based trio leans into blues rock, hard rock, and shades of indie grit with a raw urgency that feels both classic and contemporary. The blues is still here; this is the band that cut their teeth on Rory Gallagher tributes and drenched their live album Live and Loud in 12-bar sweat, but it’s not the dominant flavor anymore. What emerges instead is something fuzzier, fiercer, and more youthful, carrying an unmistakable edge and a touch of DIY indie spirit.

Comprised of guitarist and vocalist Zac Schulze, drummer Ben Schulze, and bassist Ant Greenwell, the band grew out of the UK’s grassroots punk and blues circuits, blending high-voltage energy with a deep respect for tradition. Inspired by a shared discovery of Rory Gallagher during the pandemic, the trio quickly carved a name for themselves on the live circuit, playing more than 250 shows a year across the UK and Europe and opening for artists like Eddie 9V and Samantha Fish. Their relentless touring and explosive performances earned them the title of Best Emerging Blues Band at the UK Blues Awards in 2024, followed by Young Artist of the Year in 2025, setting the stage for this long-awaited studio debut.

The opener, aptly titled “The Rocker,” makes their intentions clear. It’s a fuzz-tinged, riff-heavy hard rocker with enough propulsion to set the tone for everything that follows. Schulze’s guitar drives the song forward with a riffage that’s both muscular and tasteful.

“I Won’t Do This Anymore” may be the bluesiest moment on the record, a harmonica-driven rocker where Nigel Feist’s guest spot adds a swampy flair. It’s a reminder of the trio’s grounding in tradition, but the execution is distinctly modern, tight, punchy, and bristling with energy. “High Roller” keeps the fire burning, classic rock in construction, but delivered with an attack that feels more punk than blues at times. Then comes “Running Dry,” perhaps the most frenetic cut, where the band dials up the punk undertones in a blitz of riffs and restless vocals.

The record isn’t all bite, though. “Angeline” softens the mood with a ballad-adjacent indie tone, giving the album a momentary breather, while “Damaged Man” snaps back with a swaggering shuffle and Zac’s scorching fretwork. The closer, “Things Change,” stretches into ballad territory again, but this time with organ swells and a southern rock inflection that recalls the Allman Brothers filtered through an English sensibility. It’s a fitting, expansive ending to a record that thrives on immediacy.

What makes Straight To It stand out is not just Schulze’s evident guitar chops, though he’s a player with both fire and finesse, but the chemistry of the trio. Ben Schulze (drums) and Ant Greenwell (bass) provide weight, urgency, and a lived-in sense of unity. The production, courtesy of Ian Sadler, deserves mention too: warm, slightly fuzzy, and perfectly balanced between grit and clarity, it captures the band’s youthful angst without sanding down their edges.

This is not a record made for nostalgia alone. Older blues heads will certainly find much to enjoy, but Straight To It is wired with the nervous energy of youth, angsty and alive, more interested in what’s next than what’s past. It’s a debut that shows the Zac Schulze Gang taking their influences and shaping them into something current and full of life.

The Review: 8.5/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– The Rocker
– Higher Roller
– Running Dry
– Damaged Man
– Things Change
– I Won’t Do This Anymore

The Big Hit

– I Won’t Do This Anymore